Hello, and welcome to [B]Dateline Disney World![/B] This week, we have yet another [B]Magic Kingdom[/B] construction update, some other tidbits from around that park, as well as some news from over at [B]Epcot[/B]. Let’s dive right in!

Lots of things happening every week with the New Fantasyland project. Starting all the way to the left, we really did not see a whole bunch of movement where the Tangled restroom/supposed meet and greet is going.

Heading over to the Beauty and the Beast area, work is continuing on Gaston’s Tavern, with some attention being put on the arches with windows on the top of the building, as well as the completion of the roofing on the spire in the back.

These things that I’ve no clue what they are started to see plywood go up, which means that pretty soon you’ll be seeing detail on them. They look to be at the start of the bridge into the Be Our Guest restaurant.

I know I’ve said that I’m not a huge fan of running all over the park just to get a Dumbo Fastpass, but it is nice that Disney is putting up a sign to show people what time the distribution is for, just so they don’t run all the way over to Philharmagic to see that the time conflicts with a dining reservation or something like that.

Early in the day this week, there were FOUR Main Street Vehicles out. This is more than I have ever seen at one time at the Magic Kingdom. The Double Decker bus was out, which is my favorite, so I snapped a few shots of it.

As many of you know, photography is a pure passion of mine, and not just the type that involves shooting over construction walls! So I was thrilled this week when I got to borrow a Canon fisheye lens from my friends over at Kingdom Camera Rentals, who are based out of Orlando and provide camera, lens, and package rentals for vacationers staying at Walt Disney World. So, here are some fishy shots I captured in the Magic Kingdom this week!

Perhaps this is the end of the Cool Wash slushie station. It would make sense seeing as that place went with the theme of the old Test Track. If they keep it around, expect cohesion in the theme with the redesign.

To me, it looked a little tacky, and not very much in the style of World Showcase. But, it is pretty well obscured and only comes out when someone holds up the phone. The Phineas and Ferb game also seems to be outrageously popular, so I suppose it is ok.

I kind of liked the Games, and it seems like there is a little bit of dead space there now that both the Games and Flower and Garden Festival are over. But, those wide vistas are part of what make Epcot special and feel expansive, so it’s a win win situation.

Well, that just about wraps things up for this week’s Dateline Disney World. What do you think is going in the third tent in Storybook Circus? Are you excited to see what direction Disney goes in with the Test Track refurbishment? Let us know in the comments!! Enjoy The Dark Knight Rises this weekend!

If you enjoyed the column, especially the photos, and you want to check out more photos and tutorials on Disney photography, please check out my photo site, [URL="http://www.DisneyPhotographyBlog.com"]Disney Photography Blog[/URL]. And if you like listening more than reading, you can hear us talk about Disney and photography on my podcast, [URL="http://www.ISO5571.com"]ISO5571[/URL]

About Cory Disbrow

Cory likes Walt Disney World so much, he recently packed his bags and moved to Orlando. Cory is a photographer and writes MiceChat's Dateline Disney World columns every Friday.

I’m really looking forward to seeing the completed Fantasyland expansion. Those castle walls will be a huge thematic enhancement and make all the original Fantasyland rides feel as though they are within the castle complex.

Algernon

The rockwork is fantastic. I hate the checkerboard cement groundwork, and the pavement by Dumbo Circus is cracked and horrible–the whole scene looks kind of hellish–not to mention the liquid spill by the “Dream Builder’s” sign in that one photo. The big question is: are the current Disney people capable of breathing magical life into any project, or will it be just another Magic Mountain with mouse ears?

Joshnyah

Again, great journalism and great photos. This really puts me in the mood to get out of this life and go to Disneyworld. When is the next orlando group trip?